Don’t ‘Have the Same Regrets I Do at the End of Trump’s Time in the Oval Office’

One man is openly sharing one of his biggest political regrets over the past eight years: not praying enough for President Barack Obama.

In an op-ed for FoxNews.com titled, “A Millennial’s Regret: I Wish I’d Prayed More for President Obama,” Caleb Parke — a production assistant for FoxNation.com — asked his liberal friends for forgiveness, saying he’s realized in recent days that he didn’t pray for the former commander-in-chief in the way he could or should have.

“He’s been my president for my entire adult life, and although I’ve disagreed with him and feel he took our country backwards in so many ways, I have to thank him and his family for their service to our country,” Parke wrote, adding that he respects his friends and family who he knows did fervently pray for Obama throughout his presidency.

In the end, though, Parke said he’s convicted and wishes he’d spent more time appealing to the Almighty on behalf of Obama, saying he came to this realization while attending a special inaugural prayer event for President Donald Trump on Thursday.

“I’m ashamed of that, and I wanted to share my regrets, not only with fellow conservatives, but also with those who oppose President Donald Trump,” Parke wrote. “I don’t want you to have the same regrets I do at the end of Trump’s time in the Oval Office.”

He added his belief that Trump’s supporters, too, must also double down and invoke God on the president’s behalf, as he said “prayer is powerful” and “changes everything.”

“In James 4:2 it says, ‘You have not because you ask not.’ And Proverbs 21:1 says, ‘the kings’ heart is like streams of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will,” Parke said. “I’ve been sincerely praying for Trump for months, and it’s made me realize how little I’ve prayed for President Obama.”

In fact, he said it’s “pathetic” that he possibly prayed more for Trump over the past few months than he did for Obama during his entire eight years in office, going on to ask his liberal friends to forgive him and encouraging people on both sides to come together.

“When we let petty political differences divide us, especially as Christians, we are not taking the authority and responsibility God has given us,” Parke wrote. “As it says in Isaiah, the government rests on Jesus’ shoulder — not the other way around.”

In order to pray for Obama or Trump, though, he said love and respect is essential, regardless of political differences. He then proceeded to encourage everyone to pray for both the Obamas as they transition to civilian life and for the Trumps as they transition into the White House, offering up his own invocation to both.